Apple tree named ‘Canopy’

ABSTRACT

‘Canopy’ is a new apple tree notable for its attractive yellow-green fruit, which stores well and is well-suited for the fresh market.

Latin name: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: ‘Canopy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘Canopy’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus domestica) obtained from a controlled cross of female parent ‘Co-op 38’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,392, expired) x ‘Dalivair’ (male parent, not patented) carried out at Seiches-sur-le-Loir, France in 2004. Seeds obtained from the cross were planted at Seiches-sur-le-Loir, and ‘Canopy’ was selected from the resulting seedlings for propagation and further observation. ‘Canopy’ was first asexually propagated by grafting at Seiches-sur-le-Loir in 2012, and has since been observed to remain true to type through successive asexually propagated generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The ‘Canopy’ apple tree is distinguished by its attractive yellow-green fruit, which is well-suited for fresh consumption. Comparisons of ‘Canopy’ to its parents and to similar variety ‘Smeralda’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,137) are shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3 below.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Canopy’ to Female Parent ‘Co-op 38’ Characteristic ‘Canopy’ ‘Co-op 38’ Petal length 17.6 mm 14.0 mm Tree habit Drooping Semi-upright Leaf apex right angle with broad Acute to acuminate short to long acuminate Harvest date 16 days after ‘Golden 40 to 60 days after ‘Golden Delicious’(2020) Delicious’ Trunk lenticel size 2 mm × 1 mm 7 mm × 4 mm

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘Canopy’ to Male Parent ‘Dalivair’ Characteristic ‘Canopy’ ‘Dalivair’ Lenticel russet Present Absent Intensity and Less than ‘Dalivair’ More than ‘Canopy’ frequency of greyed- red overcolor Flavor Sweeter than ‘Dalivair’ Less sweet than ‘Canopy’ Date of full bloom Earlier (April 13) Later (April 16) Maturity as measured 6/10 5/10 by starch level (Oct. 19, 2021)

TABLE 3 Comparison of ‘Canopy’ to Similar Variety ‘Smeralda’ Characteristic ‘Canopy’ ‘Smeralda’ Trunk color Greyed-purple N187D Greyed-green 197A over greyed-orange 166B Leaf attitude in Upward Outward relation to shoot Diameter of fully 39.3 mm 35 mm open flower Length of stalk 16.6 mm 25.8 mm Flesh color Yellow-green 149D Yellow 4D

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were obtained in 2021 at Seiches-sur-le-Loir, France. The trees depicted were planted in 2018.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a ‘Canopy’ apple tree with leaves and fruit;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a ‘Canopy’ apple tree without leaves or fruit;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a blossom and flower buds on a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of blossoms from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 5 is a photograph of leaves from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a stem-end view of apples from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of a calyx-end view of apples from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 8 is a photograph of a side view of apples from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree;

FIG. 9 is a photograph of sectioned apples from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree; and,

FIG. 10 is a photograph of sectioned apples from a ‘Canopy’ apple tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed botanical description was recorded at Seiches-sur-le-Loir, France during the 2021 growing season (unless otherwise noted). The described trees were planted in 2018 and grown on Pajam®2 ‘Cepiland’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,715) rootstock. All colors are described with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (6^(th) ed. 2015, reprinted 2019). It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:     -   -   Vigor.—Medium to high.         -   Type.—Ramified.         -   Habit.—Drooping.         -   Bearing.—On shoots and spurs.         -   Spread of mature tree.—1.4 meters.         -   Height.—2.2 m.         -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—44.2 mm.         -   Bark texture.—Smooth with prominent lenticels.         -   Bark color.—Greyed-purple N187D over greyed-orange 166B.         -   Lenticel length.—2 mm.         -   Lenticel width.—1 mm.         -   Lenticel height.—0.7 mm.         -   Lenticel shape.—Slightly elongated ovate.         -   Lenticel color.—Orange-white 159C.         -   Lenticel density.—Dense. -   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft     union):     -   -   Length.—70 cm.         -   Diameter.—14.6 mm.         -   Crotch angle.—80°.         -   Bark color.—Greyed-orange 166B and greyed-purple N187D.         -   Lenticel length.—1.5 mm.         -   Lenticel width.—0.8 mm.         -   Lenticel height.—0.3 mm.         -   Lenticel shape.—Slightly elongated ovate.         -   Lenticel color.—Orange-white 159C.         -   Lenticel density.—Medium to dense, about 5 per cm².         -   Color of vegetative buds.—Greyed-purple 187A.         -   Shape of vegetative bud apex.—Acute.         -   Position of vegetative buds in relation to             shoots.—Adpressed. -   One year old shoot:     -   -   Length.—24.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.8 mm.         -   Growth pattern.—Straight.         -   Color.—Greyed-brown N199B.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate.         -   Internode length.—27.7 mm.         -   Lenticel length.—0.8 mm.         -   Lenticel width.—0.5 mm.         -   Lenticel heigh.—0.1 mm.         -   Lenticel shape.—Round to slightly elongated ovate.         -   Lenticel color.—Yellow-white 158D.         -   Lenticel density.—Dense, about 10 per cm². -   Flower buds:     -   -   Stage described.—Bud burst.         -   Quantity per spur.—10.         -   Bud shape.—Medium ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Slightly acute.         -   Length.—13.2 mm.         -   Diameter.—7.5 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 147D. -   Flowers:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Diameter of fully open flower.—39.3 mm.         -   Depth of fully open flower.—9.4 mm.         -   Relative position of petal margin.—Overlapping.         -   Number per cluster.—Average 5.3.         -   Fragrance.—Typical of apple varieties.         -   Date of first bloom.—April 9.         -   Date of full bloom.—April 13.         -   Pollination requirement.—Most varieties with similar bloom             date. -   Petals:     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Petal shape.—Circular to obovate, slightly elongated.         -   Length.—17.6 mm.         -   Width.—14.8 mm.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse to rounded.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color of upper surface.—White NN155D.         -   Color of lower surface.—White NN155D.         -   Texture.—Both surfaces smooth.         -   Color of venation.—Red-purple 64C.         -   Petal vein prominence.—Medium. -   Pistils:     -   -   Length.—12.4 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 144C.         -   Quantity per flower.—5. -   Stigma:     -   -   Diameter.—0.5 mm.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange N167B.         -   Position of stigma relative to anther.—Above. -   Style:     -   -   Length.—8.2 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 144C. -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—3.2 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.3 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 145C. -   Stamens:     -   -   Quantity.—Average 19.6.         -   Length of filament.—8 mm.         -   Color of anther.—Yellow 8C.         -   Pollen presence.—Present in moderate quantity.         -   Pollen color.—Yellow 7D. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—16.1 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Color.—Green 143C.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Color of upper surface.—Green 144B with red-purple 64B on             tip.         -   Color of lower surface.—Green 144B with red-purple 64B on             tip.         -   Sepal shape.—Slightly elongated triangular.         -   Apex shape.—Strongly acute.         -   Margin (smooth, serrated, etc.).—Entire.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate to high.         -   Attitude in relation to corolla.—Downward. -   Leaves:     -   -   Shape.—Slightly elongated ovate.         -   Length.—9.4 cm.         -   Width.—5.5 cm.         -   Blade margin.—Serrate.         -   Undulation of blade margin.—Moderate.         -   Apex.—Right angle with broad, short to long acuminate tip.         -   Base shape.—Broad wedge-shaped, convex.         -   Leaf color-upper surface.—Green 139A, primary vein             yellow-green 144C.         -   Leaf color-lower surface.—Green 138B, primary vein yellow             green 144C.         -   Pubescence.—None on upper surface; weak to medium on lower             surface.         -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Upward.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—3.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.8 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 144C. -   Stipules:     -   -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Length.—3.9 mm.         -   Widt.—0.4 mm.         -   Color.—Green 143A. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per cluster.—5.         -   Diameter.—74 mm.         -   Height.—62 mm.         -   Height to width.—0.84.         -   Weight.—187 g.         -   General shape in profile.—Conic with flat tapering sides on             apical half.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—At equator.         -   Ribbing.—Weak.         -   Crowning at calyx end.—Weak.         -   Bloom of skin.—Absent.         -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent.         -   Amount of anthocyanin over-color on young fruit.—About 30%.         -   Background color of skin.—Yellow-green 145C.         -   Over color of skin.—Yellow-green 144B; greyed-red 178C over             20% of surface on some fruits.         -   Amount of over color.—95%.         -   Intensity of over color.—Intense.         -   Pattern of over color.—Flushed and mottled.         -   Fruit lenticel color.—Yellow-green 145C, with a point of             russet in the center of each lenticel.         -   Fruit lenticel diameter.—0.3 mm.         -   Fruit lenticel shape.—Round near calyx end; increasingly             elongated nearing stalk end.         -   Fruit lenticel quantity.—Many.         -   Russet around stalk cavity.—Weak.         -   Russet on cheeks.—In center of lenticels only.         -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Very weak.         -   Length of stalk.—16.6 mm.         -   Diameter of stalk.—2.6 mm.         -   Stalk color.—Greyed-brown N199D.         -   Depth of stalk cavity.—16 mm.         -   Width of stalk cavity.—33 mm.         -   Depth of eye basin.—8.9 mm.         -   Width of eye basin.—31 mm.         -   Diameter of eye.—7.3 mm.         -   Aperture of eye.—Closed to slightly open.         -   Length of sepal.—4.6 mm.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Medium, 8.77 kg/cm at harvest (2021).         -   Flesh texture.—Medium, neither fine nor coarse.         -   Number of locules.—5.         -   Aperture of locules.—Moderately open.         -   Locule length.—0.86 mm.         -   Locule width.—0.36 mm.         -   Flavor.—Slightly acidic.         -   Juiciness.—Moderate.         -   Brix.—13° Brix.         -   Flesh color.—Yellow-green 149D. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—Average 7.2.         -   Length.—7.6 mm.         -   Width.—4.9 mm.         -   Shape.—Slightly elongated ovate.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange 165A. -   Harvest:     -   -   Harvest date.—October 3 (2020); 16 days after ‘Golden             Delicious’ (not patented).         -   Number of picks.—1 or 2. -   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant to apple scab. -   Eating quality: Good. -   Storageability: Medium to long. -   Market use: Fresh consumption. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct apple tree named ‘Canopy’ substantially as described and illustrated herein. 